Howard L. Mills

Howard "Pete" Mills of Albion, NE died Sunday, December 13, 2020 at his home.

A Public Visitation will be held 4-6 p.m. Tuesday at Levander Funeral Home in Albion, NE.  Social distancing and Covid-19 DHM's will be followed.  A Private Family Funeral will be held Wednesday at Zion Lutheran Church in Albion, NE with Rev. Carolann Hopcke officiating. It will be live streamed on the Zion Lutheran Church Facebook Page at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, and a video will be posted to Levander Funeral Home website later Wednesday. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery, Albion, NE with Military Rites conducted by American Legion Post #162, VFW Post #736, Sons of the American Legion Post #162, and the Army Funeral Honor Guard.

Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation.

Levander Funeral Home of Albion, NE is in charge of the arrangements.

Howard Leon "Pete" Mills, youngest child of William Henry Harrison Mills and Jessie Viola (Niles) Mills, was born July 5, 1927 on a farm in rural Albion, NE. He was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Albion and attended rural Boone County District #44 through the eighth grade. He farmed with his father until entering the United States Army and was stationed in Alaska while serving during the end of World War II. Following his honorable discharge, he returned to the Albion area where he resumed farming and took flying lessons, earning his private pilot certificate on September 26, 1948.

On September 1, 1950, Howard was united in marriage to Della LaVonne Krohn at Zion Lutheran Church in Albion, NE. They lived and farmed west of Albion, until moving to town in the mid-1950's when Howard and his brother Guy owned and operated the pool hall for several years. They returned to farming and livestock production west of Albion, and near Spalding, NE for a short time, while raising their children: Mary, Connie, Tom and Rod. In 1978, he left farming and they moved to Bassett, NE to work for Coash, Inc, where he was a floater operator. They returned to Albion a year later to help get a new Coash, Inc. facility up and running. While working here as the shop foreman he also operated a custom combining business. He took great pride in taking on some of the most difficult fields and doing a good job for his customers.

Howard and LaVonne began wintering in Arizona and Texas as he somewhat retired, spending 20+ winters at their favorite RV resort in Kerrville, TX, where he spent much of his time running the pool tables with his friends. When back in Albion for the summers, he was an avid vegetable and flower gardener, and was devoted to keeping his lawn green and weed free. He shared his passion for well-kept lawns with his church and family.

Howard was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church in Albion. He was a hard worker who led and taught by example. He was quick witted, full of smart-alek remarks and had a remarkably dry sense of humor. When it came to come backs, it was nearly impossible to top him. When asked how he was doing, it was nearly always "Purdy Wonerful". He had an answer for everything, concluded by, "Hear me??" He was always willing to share a "Thimble Pie" or a pickup by the ears with his grandkids. If that were not enough to get a rise out of them, he would hold them upside down by the ankles. Above all, he loved his children and grandchildren, but would proudly say, "he loved his wife even more".

Howard is survived by his wife of 70 years, LaVonne of Albion; three children: Mary (Ron) Levander of Albion, NE; Connie (Bill) Becker of Albion, NE; Rod Mills of York, NE; eight grandchildren: Amy (Brian) Moser of Albion, NE; Chris (Jaymee) Levander of Columbus, NE; Tony (Nicole) Levander of Albion, NE; Jason (Amber) Becker of Albion, NE; Scott (Samantha) Levander of Lincoln, NE; Lisa Levander of Missouri Valley, IA; Ryan (Laura) Mills of Lincoln, NE; Brady Mills of Lincoln, NE; 14 great-grandchildren; along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons: Tom Mills and Baby Boy Mills; three brothers: Sam, Guy and Lou "Curly" Mills; and three sisters: Leta Hansen, Vivian Freese and Lulu Freese.